STUDENT INTERNATIONALISATION DURING COVID 19 PANDEMIC: CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS

Abstract

Intensification of international contacts, promoted by the globalisation in the modern world, has led to the shifts in cultural identity and has necessitated the recognition and dissemination of one’s cultural values. It has foregrounded the ability to engage successfully in the international cultural environment, showing tolerance and cultural awareness with regard to other cultures. Good intercultural communication skills are a key component of the contemporary world, which is considered by many employers one of the key skills in their employees. Higher education can be a significant contribution to the improvement of youth’s intercultural communication skills by enabling students to participate in various exchange programmes and international projects. One of the most popular and at the same time most accessible programmes is Erasmus+. However, the COVID 19 pandemic produced significant impact on international communication. At present, the study process is being implemented remotely in many high schools, there are induced restrictions on attending cultural events and public places, moreover, travel is occasionally being hampered. Nevertheless, the case study shows that academic students are eager to travel abroad for a certain period of study, taking the opportunities offered by the exchange programme. The aim of the research is to analyze the opinions of international exchange students on the opportunities and challenges of internationalization, identifying the factors promoting mobility during the COVID 19 pandemic. The time scope of the study is the academic year 2020/2021 till first term of the academic year 2021/2022. The research was carried out at a bachelor's degree-level programme at a regional university in Latvia, through application of a qualitative method. A thematic analysis of the interviews was undertaken using an iterative, inductive approach to the generation of codes and themes. Coding was established using NVivo 12. The participants of the research were the local students, the incoming exchange students as well as the local outgoing students currently participating in mobility at a foreign university.In the course of the study, it was possible to analyse the situation in dynamics, comparing the current situation with the situation at the end of 2019, when international and local students with similar objectives were invited for an interview. The students pointed out that their motivation to participate in mobility was not lost, as a fact, it increased apparently, due to the lack of internationalization at their home university and residence. Owing to this, despite the restrictions and distance learning, they engaged in mobility to learn other countries and cultures. The international students indicate that they failed to establish contacts with the local students during their recent mobility, hence they are happy to establish new contacts with other international students at their host university.